Depth adjuster for plows



June 14,1927.

, w. s. GRAHAM DEPTH ADJUSTER FOR FLOWS Original Filed April 17, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 14, 1927. 1,632,128

w. s. GRAHAM v DEPTH ADJUSTER FOR FLOWS Original Filed April 17. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 zz W 11a fiver? Z07".

Gafiam By l Patented June 14, 1927.

UNITED STATES- A E 1 F WILLIAM s. GRAHAM, or CANTON, ILLINOIS, Ass enon, BY MEsNE ASSIGNMENTS. r0 rEEn GERLACH AND ARNOLD B. KELLER, TRUSTEES, BOTH OF CHICAGO, rumors.

DEPTH ADJUSTER sofa snows. 7

Original application filed A ril 17, 1922, sensin 553,521. Divided and this application filed December a 12, 1325. Serial No. 74.973.

This invention relates to wheel plowsand more particularly to improvements in power lift devices by which'power is derived from a supporting wheel to elevateand lower the plow bottom ofv such a plow, the invention being illustrated in application bearing Serial No. 553,521, filed April 17, 1922, of which this application is a' division;

a power lift which will afford a close adjustment of; the depth at which the plow bottom operates in the soil.

A still further object is to provide a power lift with an effective plow depth adjuster which will preclude the possibility of accidental displacement of the connections for accomplishing the adjustment of the power lift. i

tion progresses.

A plow embodying a power j lift con} structed in accordance with the teachings of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in WhlCllI Fig. 1 is a plan view of a twoway"plow power lift incorporated which the plow depth adjustment is effected;

and a j 1 Fig. 4 is a perspective View of of the illustrative plow.

The illustrative plow, in which twoiplow bottoms are shown to be capable of independent vertical movement. comprises means including a radially adjustable pivot, block 33 the position of which determines the depth at which its connected plow bottom will operate in the soil. the pivot block isslidably mounted upon a crank arm which extends at a right angle to a power lift clutchshaft; The crank arm is preferably offset relative to an extended radius of the clutch shaft so (as to promote effective operation of the power lift. Ac-

the frame cidental removal of the pivot block is pre'-. a k

vented by the laterally bent end of the arm.

block 33 is a link 35 which transmits the Other objects will appear as the desci'ipat 11 so. as to effectively engage the. lower" surface of the :bar 10 and thereby promote rigidity of the frame structure. The lower Q In this instance erned by the positions of the pivot block 33.

the adjustment of which lengthwise of the crank arm may optionally be used to increase" I the mechanical advantage involved in the. It is an ob ect of the invention to provide application of power derived from the sup porting wheel. As the pivotblock is moved away from the laterally. bent end of'the crank arm, the supporting wheel will over come greater resistances in lifting the plow frame and plows.

- structed of heavy bar materialso as to serve as a basis for the entire plow structure. For

purposes which will hereinafter appear," V-

shaped frame members 11 spaced apart i suitable bolts and spacing sleeves 12 are sej 7 cured ri'gidly'to the archlO. The. upper ends of the members 11 are twisted as indicated] portionsfof the members 11 are reversely bentand have their ends rigidly secured to uprights l3,,which, in turn, arerigidly sei curedat their upper ends to the bar 10, as shown. j Slots lfi'are provided in the lower portions ofthe members 11 for purposes which v will hereinafter appear, and the framefis strengthenedby diagonal braces 15 connect relative to the arch 10 and materially rigid ify the frame, which is sub ect to severe tw st-mgstrains n use.

Y ing the downwardly extending arms of the i arch 10 with the frame members 11. These I f braces operate to. prevent displacement of v the forwardly projecting frame members 11 Dela is transmitted to the 10; by means i j of a hitch member, or draft device 16, preferably pivotally related to the frame nem bers 11 and formed of a single bar bent into ce j U-shape form with its forward ends in contact so as to enable a clevis to be advantageously applied thereto. This draft device fits snugly between the two frame members 11, as clearly indicated in Fig. 1, and at its sides is provided with straps 17 which extend rearwardly and on the outside of the respective frame members 11. The bars 16 extend between the two foremost spacing sleeves 12 so that the vertical pivotal move ments of the draft device will be limited thereby.

Interposed between the above described frame members 11 and the corresponding strap 17 are plow beams 18 which have their forward ends provided with slots, as indicated at 18% A suitable draft pin 19 extends through the draft device and through the slots 1a in the frame members 11 as well as through the straps on the outside of the draft device. This pin is also engaged in the slots 18 in the forward ends of the plow beams. Bails 20 are pivotally mounted in the lower ends of the arms of the arched member 10 and the uprights 13. These bails are preferably provided with their inner arms flattened so as to receive downwardly extending plates 21, which are riveted thereto. The outer portions of the bails have out-turned ends which are received within perforations of. the arms of the arch. The inner arms of the bails are in engagement with the inner surfaces of the uprights 13 and are perforated so as to receive a bolt passing through .the bail, the uprights 13 and a spacing sleeve 23 internosed between the inner arms of the bails. Each bail has jonrnaled thereon a supporting bracket 25 which is bolted to a plow beam 18. r

The arch 10 has a bearing plate 26 secured to each arm and other plates 27 are bolted to the horizontal portion of the arch, as clearly shown in F ig. 1. These bearing plates providehorizontally alined journals which receive the horizontal portions of crank axles 20*. At the opposed and spaced ends of these crank axles, rearwardly extending crank arms 28 are provided. The opposite ends of these crank arms extend downwardly and forwardly and thence inwardly, the inwardly extending portions 28 being, parallel to the upper portions of. the crank arm. These lower parallel portions are shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. A link 29 connects the crank arm 28" at the left side of the plow with the plate 21 on the bail 20 at the right hand side of the plow, a second link 30 operatively crossing the first link 29, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, soas to connect the crank axle on theright hand side of the plow with the bail 20 on the left hand side. i

The lower and inwardly turned ends 28 of the crank axles 28 have bearing brackets opposite the roller 41.

31 clamped thereto so as to rotatively sup port therein clutch shafts 32. shaft is formed at its inner end with a crank arm 32" having a laterally bent end, as in dicated at 32" in Fig. 3. 3) there is slidably mounted a pivot block 33 having a horizontal opening 33 and a vertical opening 33 The vertical opening is threaded to receive an adjusting: screw 34-. This adjusting screw passes through the lat erally bentend of the crank arm so that by turning the adjusting screw the pivot block 33 may be moved relative to the bent end 32, and firmly held in .its adjusted position. Pivot-ally mounted within the openings of the pivot block are lifting links 35 which are pivoted at their upper ends to levers 36, which may be adjusted to alter the horizontal positions of the plows with respect to the plow frame. These levers 36 are pivoted to the frame by means of lugs 37 formed on the brackets 27. Conventional racks 38 cooperate with suitable detent mechanisms to hold the levers 36 in their adjusted positions.

The crank arms 32 of the rcspective clutch shafts 32 are offset with respect to an extended radius of the clutch shaft so that the links 35 will assume the proper position in alinement with the centers of shafts 32 at the termination of each lifting or lowering movement of the shaft.

Each clutch shaft 32 has a clutch mechanism mounted upon its outer end, Each clutch mechanism comprises a plate 39 mounted so as to be non-rotative relative to the shaft 32. Each plate 39 is provided with oppositely arranged notches 39, as well as with oppositely arranged clutch dogs 39. Cooperating with the notches 39 and mounted so as to engage the clutch dogs 39", is a trip 40 mounted on each bracket 31 and provided at its end with a roller 41. A compression spring 412 engages an upright arm 43 which is an extension of the trip all This spring abuts against a lug on the bracket 31 so as to press the roller 41 toward the clutch plate 39. To

each arm 43 is secured a .trip rope through which actuation of the clutch is controlled in a well known manner. Each clutch also comprises a casing 44 which is lixed to a supporting wheel so as to rotate therewith on the shaft 32. This casing. is provided with internal notches on its annular flange; the inner ends of the clutch dogs, 39" engage ing these internal notches in a well kn wn manner when the clutch dons are released by a pull upon the trip rope.

\Vhen the clutch dogs 39 are engaged with the internal teeth on the annular flange of the casing 44. the supporting wheel and the shaft 32 will rotate in unison until the roller 41 falls into an opposite notch. This move ment imparts a half revolution to the power shaft and its crank arm 32 at each opera- Each clutch- On each crank arm tion? of the clutch mechanism, thereby shift-.5 ing -the supporting wheel. in opposite .direc tions alternately. As the, clutch mechanism I is of a type commonlyused in this art, ity is believed that moreextended description is;

unnecessary, it being understood thateither axle will be moved alternately upwardly and downwardly at each successiveiactuatlon of. the I clutch mechanism H connected thereto.

Through the connections: aboverdescribed each shifting of a crank axle 28 results in the shifting of the plow upon the opposite side of the frame, ina reversedirection.

Byadjustment-of the screwflt, the, pivot mounting of the lower end ofthe link is shifted substantially radially of the crank arm 32, correspondingly varyingthe effective throw of the crank arm." By the expression .effective. throw tof the crank arm reference ismadetosucha throw as that which would-be provided'by a crank:

armythe outerend of which terminated in i the pivot block 33,. the; position of whicluinf applicants plow, governsihe range of the lifting and lowering movements-of the plow.

Further adjustments to, regulate the -posi-.

tions of the plows roughly relatively to the ground is possible by the adjustment of levers 36. These levers operate to raise and lower the wheels and plows without afi'ect ing the throw of the power lift clutch.

In operation, after the first furrow has been opened, the plow parts would assume the position shown in Fig. 2, and the operator on reaching the end of the field would trip the clutch on the land wheel. This would cause that wheel to swing downwardly to an extent equal to the desired depth of plowing, whichnormally varies from 5 to 10 inches. Assuming that the left hand or upper supporting wheel in Fig.

1 has had its attached clutch tripped, the

downwardly extending crank of the upper crank arm 28 will swing downwardl This causes the bail 20 on the opposite si e of the frame to swing upwardly by reason of the connecting link 29.

The operator is now ready to turn his machine in position for making the return furrow. He will next trip the clutch on the opposite wheel, which then becomes the land .wheel.

This causes the opposite plow to be lowered to the plowing depth, and also levels the frame. l

It is important to note that as each bail 20 swings upwardly or downwardly to correspondingly raise or lower its plow beam,

the beam will be given a slight longitudinal movement. The bail is in substantially horizontal position whenthe plow is down, upward movement of the bail causing the beam to move forward, and downward movement of the bail causing the beam to move rearwardly. This longitudinal movement,

of the plow beams causes the released each beam from contact with the .draft pin 19 as i the beam is raised; Thisaction' is dueto the fact that the slot 18* in the forward end of each beam will allow the beamJto slide for wardly as it is being raised. In this man.- nerpractically the full;draft power "is applied tothe lower beam as the'slots 18 in the frame members allow the-draft pin 19 to drawback with the lowered beam and allow thepinto move forwardly to the ends it of theslots 18*wvhentheplows are raised. When both plows are raised, thedra'ft will be transmitted equally to both frame memhers 11.

The specific details of Iconstruction, arrangementand mode of operation of the J illustrative device may bevariously modified to suit various conditions orrequirements, 1 within the scope of the appended claims. a

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination with a power lift device comprising frame, a cranked axle 1ournaled thereon, a wheel on the. cranked axle, traction actuated clutch mechanism connected to the wheel'and including an in termittently rotatable member and a link eccentrically pivoted thereto, said link having its upper end pivoted on the frame; of

means for adjustably varying the eccentric link for varying the effective length of the crank arm.

,3. The combination with a power lift device comprising a frame, a cranked axle journaled thereon, a wheel. on the cranked axle, traction actuated clutch mechanism,

connected to the wheel and including an in termittently rotatable crank arm and a link, said link being connected to said frame and to said crank arm; of means for adjusting the point of connection between the crank arm and link comprising a member movable on the crank arm and to which the link is pivoted, and means for retaining said memer at adjustment on-the crank arm.

4. The combination with a power lift device comprising a frame, a cranked axle journaled thereon, a wheel on the cranked axle, "traction actuated clutch mechanism connected to the wheel and including an intermittently rotatable crank arm and a link, said link. being connected to said frame 1 and to said crank arm; of means for adjust-y ing the point of connection between the crank arm and linkcomprising a block movable on the crank arm towards and from its end and to which the link is pivoted, and a screw connection for moving the block on the crank arm.

5. The combination with a power lift de-,

vice comprising aframe, a cranked axle journaled thereon, a wheel on the cranked axle, traction actuated clutch mechanism connected to the wheel and including an intermittently rotatable crank arm and a link,said link being connected to said frame and to said crank arm; of means for adjusting the point of connection between the crank arm and link comprising a pivot block slidably adjustable on the crank arm and to which the link is pivoted, an angular projection on the end of the crank arm constituting a stop for said block, and an adjusting screw passing through the pivot block and rotatable in the angular projection on the end of the crank arm.

6. The combination with a power lift device comprising a frame, a cranked axle journaled thereon, a wheel. on the cranked axle, traction actuated clutch mechanism connected to the wheel and including anintermittently rotatable crank amnanil a link,

crank axle and rotatable with respect thereto, a clutch axle rotatable relative to said crank axle and passing through said wheel to afford an axle there or, a lifting link interposed between the inner end of the clutch axle and the framc,'the lifting link being pivotally related to the clutch axle on an axis eccentrically related to the axis of the clutch axle, means for optionally'varying the eccentricity of sa d pivotal connection, and

a, clutch mounted on said clutch axle for effecting successive, intermittent, unidirectional rotary movements of said clutch axle to effect relative vertical movements of said wheel and the frame.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM S. GRAHAM. 

